When I bring up the subject of green cleaning, people often talk about what their parents or grandparents did to keep their houses clean. It was usually a combination of water, vinegar, lemon and baking soda. It was a way to save money and keep things simple.
Found below are natural solutions to every household task - from cleaning your toilet to scrubbing your oven. You will save money, cut the wasteful packaging, and keep everyone in your house (including your pets) healthy.
You Will Need:
Vinegar – Cuts grease and soap scum. Dissolves mineral deposits. Reported to kill 99 per cent of bacteria, 82 per cent of mold and percent of viruses.
Baking Soda – Cleans, deodorizes, scours.
Borax – Cleans, deodorizes, disinfects. Available in the laundry section of grocery stores.
Olive oil – Conditions woodwork.
Essential Oils (optional) – There are so many reasons to use these concentrated aromatic plant substances around your house. For one thing, they have extraordinary antibacterial capabilities against many unwanted microbes – E.coli, listeria, salmonella, mold, and some can even inhibit the spread of human pathogens such as influenza and pneumonia. Think of the implications of this in your household for the prevention of illnesses. My favorite oils to use for cleaning the house are cheap and widely available – lavender, rosemary, tea tree, lemon, orange and peppermint. You can buy them at health food stores, grocery stores and pharmacies. Keep them out of reach of children. They’re natural but very concentrated and you must be cautious about getting them on your skin or in your eyes.
MIX UP THESE SIMPLE RECIPES IN SECONDS:
All-Purpose Cleaning Spray – 1 tsp of baking soda, 2 tbsp of vinegar, 20 drops of lavender EO, 20 drops of orange EO, 5 drops of rosemary, 1 cup of warm water. Mix in spray bottle and use to clean surfaces in the kitchen. For a bathroom version, use 20 drops of tea tree EO and 20 drops of peppermint EO.
Glass Cleaner – ¼ cup of vinegar, 4 cups of water, 1 tsp of lemon EO. Add to spray bottle and shake well before use.
Stovetop Cleaner – 1/3 cup of baking soda, enough water to create a paste, 5 drops of lemon EO, 5 drops of rosemary EO.
Oven Cleaner – 1 ½ cups of baking soda, ¼ cup of vinegar, 20 drops of lemon EO. Removes racks and clean separately in the sink. Apply the paste on surfaces of the oven with pastry or paint brush. Let stand overnight. Remove with wet cloth.
Wood Floor Cleaner and Furniture Polish – 1 gallon of hot water, 1 tbsp of olive oil, 10 drops of lemon EO, 10 drops of orange EO.
Disinfecting Floor Cleaner – 1 gallon of hot water, ¼ cup of borax, 10 drops of tea tree EO, 10 drops of rosemary EO.
Bathroom Scrubbing Powder – 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, 1 cup salt, 20 drops of tea tree EO, 20 drops of peppermint EO. Mix well and sprinkle on bathroom surfaces to scour and disinfect.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner – ¼ cup of baking soda, 1 cup of vinegar, 20 drops of tea tree EO. Pour around sides of bowl and let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub and flush.
Room and Furniture Spray – Add 40 drops of your favorite essential oils to water in a spray bottle.
Removing Lime and Mineral Deposits from Taps – soak a cloth in vinegar and leave wrapped around tap overnight.
Eliminating Cat Urine or Spray – orange EO is nothing short of miraculous for this. Add about 1 tsp to a liter of hot water and ¼ cup of vinegar. Wash entire area. The smell will be undetectable even to cats.
There are also safe, eco-friendly cleaning products available but be careful because where there is green, there is greenwashing. For a list of safe cleaners and their ratings, visit Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning.